The Impact of Russian-Syrian Relations on the Security Policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran during the Syrian Crisis (2011 to 2018)

With a centralized political and security structure, Iran has a variety of formations of internal and external factors that organize and implement security policy. The researcher seeks to answer the question "how has Russia-Syria relations from 2011 to 2018 affected the Islamic Republic of Iran's security policy".

In this study, a descriptive-analytical method was used.

One of the important external factors affecting Iran's security policy is the Syrian crisis and the role of various countries and groups such as Russia. Russia is one of the extra-regional powers that intervened in the Syrian crisis in favor of Bashar al-Assad's government. Expanding and maintaining Russian-Syrian relations has increased stability and reduced the cost of security policy for the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The first positive consequence of Iran's national interests has been the maintenance of Syria's ruling system as Iran's strategic ally. Second, in Iran's view, Russia can balance Iran's position on international issues, especially the West, and deter other regional powers and disrupt their efforts to eliminate Iran's role in the region. The fight against terrorism and extremism and its relative overcoming are other benefits of Russia's approach to Iran for Syria.